PLANS to merge health services have been condemned by a Midland MP in a House of Commons report.

PLANS to merge health services have been condemned by a Midland MP in a House of Commons report.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced proposals to reduce the 30 West Midland health trusts responsible for commissioning NHS services to about 15 larger bodies.

The four existing trusts in Birmingham, known as Primary Care Trusts, could be merged into just one, covering the entire city.

But the changes have been criticised by the Commons Health Select Committee, including Worcestershire MP Dr Richard Taylor (Ind, Wyre Forest).

He warned that every time health services were reformed, it took them 18 months to recover.

But the trusts have already been through a series of changes.

Until 2002, Birmingham actually had a single trust, known as Birmingham Health Authority, but this was abolished and replaced by the four primary care trusts which the Government is now considering merging back into a single body.

The trusts control 80 per cent of the local NHS budget and commission health care for their local populations from hospitals, GPs, ambulance trusts and other providers.

The Health Select Committee described the plans as "ill thought out" as it published the findings of an inquiry into the latest reforms.

Dr Taylor said: "The cycle of perpetual change is ill-judged and not conducive to the successful provision and improvement of health services."

But Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "We aim to create stronger and more effective primary care trusts which can secure the best possible health and healthcare for all patients, in every local area."